Any help you could provide in diagnosing and.

SIFT

MEMBER
1992 SATURN SL1
85,000 MILES

Any help you could provide in diagnosing and repairing my sudden windshield wiper problem would be greatly appreciated! The other day I was driving. The wiper switch was set to the off position. Suddenly, the wipers started to "groan" and struggle to start, then stop, then start, etc. They did this at every setting except fully on, which worked normally. Also, when I try using the wiper mist position, that works for while, then the fluid stop flowing to the jets. If I wait a few seconds, it will work again.

Sound familiar?

Thanks in advance.

7 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

So the wipers try to work when there off?But dont?Iam trying to figure out if you have more then one. Problem or just one problem?

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Sunday, November 25th, 2012 AT 6:13 PM

SIFT

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Correct, the wipers are, on their own, trying to work when they are turned OFF. And not doing a very good job of it. They groan and vibrate and struggle to move, then move a little, then stop, then move a little further, then stop, . Repeat.

Very annoying--sounds like the motor is going to burn out! Yet, if I turn the switch to full ON, to the fastest setting, they work fine--no odd motor noises, smooth, fast operation. And when I turn them OFF again, it's back to intermittent groaning creeping wipers.

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Sunday, November 25th, 2012 AT 6:59 PM

SATURNTECH9

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Sounds like you have a bad wiper motor its really comon for the 1995 and down S model saturns to have the logic board fail and most common symptoms when. They fail you get the wiper motor coming on when the wipers are off. Also if the wiper motor sounds so bad I would also say thats another reason to say its a bad motor as well. Iam not there to see or hear whats going on but from what you have said it sounds like a bad motor. Also inspect the wiper linkage and make sure the wiper arm nuts are tight.

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Sunday, November 25th, 2012 AT 9:42 PM

SIFT

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Thanks. I wasn't sure if there was a logic board somewhere. That seemed the most likely cause to me, since the motor operates flawlessly when set to its ON/fastest setting.

I'll inspect as you suggest. Also, do you know if there is any way to test the logic board or wiper motor connector pins (with a volt/ohm meter, for example) to verify that the board and/or motor is the culprit?

Thanks again.

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Sunday, November 25th, 2012 AT 10:21 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
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The logic board is attached to the motor so when you replace the motor you replace the logic board also. So if the wiper motor is bad noisey etc replace the motor and see if the wipers stop. Comming on by themselves?There is a way to test the circuit though to see why the wjpers are coming on when the wipers are turned off. But has to be tested when its happening.